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Castle / Ruins of Castle Spots in Niigata Area

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  • Site of the former Kasugayama Castle
    Travel / Tourism
    Nigata Pref. Jouetsushi Nakayashiki ,soy
    Kasugayama Castle was built on Mt. Kasuga, transforming the entire mountain into an important strategic position; the Castle is famous as the main residence of Uesugi Kenshin. It is ranked 32nd in the list of the Top 100 Castles of Japan. Restoration work is currently underway, and the Castle is gradually starting to regain some of its former appearance. When the castle was still intact, the Honmaru (central bailey) was located on the mountain-top, with a castle town at the foot of the mountain where the residences of important retainers and the lord’s relatives were located. Kasugayama Castle is located around 13-minute drive from Kasugayama Station on the Myoko Haneuma Line.
    Site of the former Kasugayama Castle image
  • Shibata Castle
    Travel / Tourism
    Nigata Pref. Shibatashi Otemachi 6
    Shibata Castle (also known as Ayame Castle) is a designated National Important Cultural Property. The Castle is one of only a handful of surviving castles that were built using the Namako-kabe design (characteristic of castles in Northern Japan) whereby the joints between the stone blocks that form the walls are made as neat as possible by cutting the blocks precisely to shape using the Kirikomihagi technique, for improved aesthetic effect. The three-tiered Yagura tower, which was built instead of a conventional Tenshu-kaku (central tower), was a distinctive building decorated with three Shachihoko (legendary sea-creatures) on the roof; this tower was reconstructed in 2004 and is well worth seeing.
    Shibata Castle image
  • Hamochi Castle Site
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Sado-shi Hamochihongo
    The site of a ruined castle built on an isolated plateau sprawling on the east side of Hamochi Hongo. The prototypical medieval mountain castle is believed to have been built in the early Muromachi period to serve as a southern Sado base by the Hamochi Honma, a clan thought to have branched off from the Yoshioka Honma clan in Mano District. After the mighty samurai lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified the country, the lord Uesugi Kagekatsu of Echigo attacked Sado, leading to the fall of this castle; archeological traces from this time period can still be found here today. Today, the site is maintained as Joshi Park, and visitors can learn about the castle’s history from a sign at the park entrance. From the top of the mountain, one can look down at the Hamochi Plain and perceive the stacked encampments and auxiliary defensive forts arrayed across a vast area around the former castle.
    Hamochi Castle Site image
  • Ruins of Tenjinzan Castle
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Niigata-shi Nishikan-ku Iwamuro Onsen
    The ruins of a mountain castle standing on the border between Iwamuro Onsen and the Ishize area. The castle’s vast grounds encompassed the entirety of 234-meter high Mt. Tenjin. Just when the castle was built is not clear, but records state the Oguni clan, presumed descendants of the samurai Minamoto no Yoriyuki, lived in it during the distant Muromachi period. A scenic lookout on the mountain can be reached in about 30 minutes walking the mountain trail starting in Marukoyama Park. Beyond that stands the medieval ruins of the castle’s embankment, stone base, and mushadamari soldier stations, preserved largely intact. Walk a further 10 minutes onward and you can get a sweeping view of the Iwamuro Onsen hot spring district. Today, the site is known as a habitat for dogtooth violets, and from late March through early April, the mountain bustles with climbers come to enjoy their beauty.
    Ruins of Tenjinzan Castle image
  • Sakado Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Minamiuonuma Sakado
    The former town of Muika sprawls in the center of the Uono River basin, and in ancient times it was a key transportation hub and militarily strategic position. It is believed that the grounds of Sakado Castle once encompassed the entirety of 634 meter high Mt. Sakado. During the strife-ridden time of the Northern and Southern Courts, this important mountain castle served as the home base of the Ueda Nagao clan, and after the forced relocation of the lords of Aizu, it became the Uesugi clan’s first line of defense for the Kanto region. Today, the ruins of the inner citadel residence can be found on the mountain’s top, while the ruins of an emergency refuge and residences for retainers stand midway up. A walking path can be used by visitors to see the various areas and imagine the castle’s bygone glory. The grave of Ueda Nagao clan head Nagao Masakage and stone monuments memorializing the births of samurai lord Uesugi Kagekatsu and chief vassal Naoe Kanetsugu are located at the base of the mountain, as well as Zenibuchi Park, a National Cultural Property-designated park built around a pond samurai lords are said to have tossed “zeni” coins into.
    Sakado Castle Ruins image
  • Matsudaijoshi Park Campsite
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nigata Pref. Tokamachishi Matsudai 5236
    This huge park located halfway up Mt. Matsushirojo in Tokamachi City leverages the former site of Matsushiro Castle, which is surrounded by virgin forests and terraced rice-fields. Guests at the park can interact with its diverse nature. The park's facilities are also top-notch. They include about 25 outdoor art installations, a promenade from which guests can view the park's hydrangeas and irises, and a campsite (reservation required). The reproduction castle, built in 1981, is popular for the views of the cityscapes of Matsushiro District and the mountains of Uonuma from its observation deck. It also serves as the finish line for the Nottore Matsushirojo snow obstacle race held every March.
    Matsudaijoshi Park Campsite image
  • Ruins of Murakami Castle
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Murakami-shi Motomachi Hoka
    Ruins of Murakami Castle image
  • Matsudai Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Tokamachi-shi Matsudai
    Matsudai Castle Ruins image
  • Takada Park (Takada Castle Ruins)
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Joetsu-shi Motoshirocho 44-1
  • Yasuda Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Agano Yasuda
  • Kurotaki Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Nishikanbara-gun Yahikomura Fumoto 7832
  • Oida Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Tokamachi-shi Nakajootsu
  • Asahi Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Nagaoka-shi Asahi
  • Tanaka Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Niigata-shi Nishikan-ku Masugata
  • Raigoji Temple Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Nagaoka-shi Raikoji
  • Matsudai Castle Ruins Park
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Tokamachi-shi Matsudai 5114
  • Tochio Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Nagaoka-shi Tochiomachi
  • Nagaoka Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Nagaoka-shi Otedori 1-chome
  • Hirabayashi Castle Ruins
    Travel / Tourism
    Niigata Murakami-shi Hirabayashi
  • Matsushiro Castle Hill Park
    Travel / Tourism
    Nigata Pref. Tokamachishi
Niigata
Murakami / Shibata Niigata / Aga Yahiko / Sanjo Nagaoka Yuzawa / Uonuma Myoko / Joetsu Sado
Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour Castle / Ruins of Castle

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Found along the northwestern coast of Japan, Niigata prefecture is celebrated for its high-quality rice and breathtaking nature, most notably its spectacular mountains, whose white peaks draw in snow sports lovers from far and wide over the winter months. Hit the slopes at Yuzawa, pick out your favourite modern artist at Echigo Tsumari, or take a ferry over to Sado Island for an extra adventure.

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